Michelle ‘Jiggling’ Jenneke is back for Australia at the Commonwealth Games

Michelle Jenneke, the Aussie hurdler who became famous for her “jiggling” hips, is back in action and ready for another tilt on the world stage.

Michelle “Jiggling” Jenneke is back.

The hurdles star, who went viral with a pre-race jig at the 2012 World Junior Championships that quickly became her trademark, will have the chance to wear Australian colours again after a wretched run of injuries threatened to end her track career.

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The 29-year-old was this week named in Australia’s athletics squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which kick off in Birmingham in late July.

Jenneke will compete in the 100m hurdles, the same event she starred in at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2016 Olympics.

Jenneke was thrilled to be back in green and gold, taking to social media to express her gratitude when the team was confirmed.

This one is special. To be back representing my country after a few years of injury is honestly pretty unbelievable. Huge thank you to my team who stuck with me during some tough moments and have made this season possible. Proud to be back in the green & gold at my 3rd Comm Games pic.twitter.com/SEj6Muq44a

— Michelle Jenneke (@MJenneke93) June 28, 2022

Jenneke was once a household name who attracted global attention — and major endorsement deals from some of the world’s biggest companies. In Rio six years ago, she was sponsored by Coca-Cola and her face was plastered across billboards in the Brazilian city.

But she copped fierce criticism for a disappointing showing at those Games, finishing sixth in her 100m hurdles heat.

Australian track and field coach at the time, Craig Hilliard, accused Jenneke of arriving in Rio out of shape and questioned whether distractions away from the track contributed to her lacklustre showing. Athletics Australia then cut her funding.

But Jenneke was determined to improve at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal in what was her best ever finish at a major international athletics meet — better than what she’d managed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Jenneke’s “jiggling” hips saw her profile soar. Picture. Phil Hillyard

She’s back in green and gold. Photo: Alex Coppel.

Four injury-riddled years later and Jenneke will be hoping to make Australia fall in love with her all over again.

Earlier this month she posted a season-best time of 13.01 seconds as she competed in America, then returned Down Under and crossed the line in 12.95 seconds to finish second at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Queensland.

Other stars who will be joining Jenneke on the Commonwealth Games team include sprint sensation Rohan Browning and high jumper Brandon Starc. Eloise Wellings (marathon) and Kathryn Mitchell (javelin) will also become the first Australian track and field athletes to compete at five Commonwealth Games.

Australia’s Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM is excited about the squad Australia has assembled.

“This is an exciting group who are ready to be bold in gold at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham,” Thomas said.

“Today’s selections are a wonderful mixture of defending gold medal champions, experienced campaigners and the next generation who are ready to establish themselves on the world stage.

“Australia has enjoyed a tremendous legacy in athletics at the Commonwealth Games, and I know the Team Members selected today are ready to add their names to that storied history.”